On 12 November 2025, the French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children (FMIC) held its 9th PGME graduation ceremony, along with the first graduation ceremony for Critical Care Nursing (CCN). The ceremony took place in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Finance and Administration of the Ministry of Public Health of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Qari Abdul Wali Siddiqi; the Chair of the FMIC Board and AKDN Coordinator for Afghanistan, Dr. Najmuddin Najm; the President of La Chaîne de l'Espoir, Dr. Eric Cheysson; as well as representatives from public and private health institutions, doctors, residents, and nurses.
The ceremony was officially inaugurated by Dr. Eric Cheysson. Following this, Dr. Najmuddin Najm delivered his welcoming remarks, expressing appreciation for the presence and participation of all attendees. He welcomed the distinguished guests, specialists, graduates, families, and all participants, and highlighted the urgent need for professional health personnel in Afghanistan. He noted that the FMIC PGME program is designed based on sustainable and professional training for healthcare workers.
He stated that since 2012, a total of 92 specialists—77 men and 15 women—from nine different specialties have graduated from this program, and are currently serving in public and private hospitals across the country. Additionally, 61 residents (15 women and 46 men) are currently undergoing their specialization training. FMIC is proud to have trained and graduated female specialists in fields such as pathology, anesthesia, radiology, and pediatric surgery.
The FMIC residency program includes both residency and research components. As part of the program, each resident is sent to the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi to complete a research project and gain evidence-based knowledge. He added that FMIC also offers comprehensive training programs in critical care for nurses, aiming to strengthen nursing capacity in the country. He said: “In the absence of professional training in previous years, many nurses had left the profession, which had serious consequences for patients. Fortunately, today marks the graduation of 18 nurses from the one-year specialized Critical Care Nursing Program".
He emphasized that the purpose of this program is not only education but also addressing challenges within the health system, building sustainable professional capacity, and fostering confidence among the healthcare workforces. Dr. Najm concluded by expressing gratitude to the faculty of specialized services, FMIC management, and donor partners for their continued support.
Following this, the Deputy Minister of Finance and Administration of the Ministry of Public Health, Qari Abdul Wali Siddiqi, offered valuable advice to all graduates. He encouraged them to carry out this noble responsibility with integrity and to serve the people of the country with humanity and sincerity. He urged the graduates to continue their learning and not limit themselves to general specialties, but to pursue advanced and specialized fields.
Later, Dr. Eric Cheysson, President of La Chaîne de l'Espoir, expressed his gratitude to all graduates and said he was pleased to have been a partner in FMIC's achievements over the past 20 years. He congratulated the 11 graduating specialist doctors and 18 nurses, thanked all FMIC partners for their ongoing contributions to improving healthcare in Afghanistan, and wished the graduates success in their careers.
The ceremony concluded officially by Dr. Gijs Walraven after the distribution of diplomas and certificates to the graduates by the distinguished guests, followed by speeches delivered by two of the graduates.
